KVMR Podcasts

29 October 2013

Listen in as Meri St. Mary talks with HANKRANK aka Henry Rosenthal drummer of CRIME for the world wide radio debut of the band’s new CD (colored vinyl available soon) “MURDER BY GUITAR 1976-1980 THECOMPLETESTUDIO RECORDINGS” on Kitten Charmer Records. In this hour long chat you can hear true CRIME stories starting from the beginning with Johnny Strike & Frankie Fix (SF 1976), how to bake tapes, the notorious San Quentin gig where the band was decked out in prison guard garb, how Hank came to be in CRIME, their being the first West Coast punk band to put out a single (Hotwire My Heart/Baby You’re So Repulsive) & why the Weekly World News played a part in the CRIME experience. We also give mad props to members no longer with us: Frankie Fix, Brittley Black & Ricky Williams! It’s no accident as to the “why” Sonic Youth covered Hotwire My Heart (on Sister) & that CRIME was the loudest band around: finally here you can get all the known/found songs previously unavailable & we play a bunch of them. Both Johnny & Henry have been busy in years that have led up to now & you can hear about Henry’s flashmob jug band, movie producing, his kids, his car – all movers & shakers in San Francisco today BTW stay tuned for part 2 cuz we didn’t even get into his space travel. So does CRIME pay? well, duh…you heard it here first!!!!!!

18 October 2012

Listen in as Meri St. Mary talks with Debora Iyall, singer, lyricist & founding member of Romeo Void a band that had success from 1981-1985. In this hour Debora shares her experience as a high school drop out who studied poetry leading her to SF's Art Institute where Romeo Void was formed in an era of immense creativity that led to many other art bands of the burgeoning SF punk scene.

The band also rehearsed at Clubfoot (along w/the OFFS, chris isaack & many others). With the demise of the band, Debora began teaching art @ The American Indian Charter School emphasizing poetry. She relocated to the desert: 29 Palms (Joshua Tree) as an extreme residency specialist throughout the area. She attended Lewis & Clark College subsequently teaching at The Navajo Nation in Arizona & as a teacher she gave the gift that keeps on giving. In 2010 Debora began performing again & formed Dottie Records, had a successful Kickstarter Campaign & released 2 solo efforts: Stay Strong & Singing Til Sunrise. She's been busy doing art shows, spoken word, acoustic & has a new band that has played LA, SF, SAC & most recently Nevada City. She finds writing is of interest massaging the words & bringing colors & emotions to her pieces, Debora wears many artistic hats & carries herself with grace, dignity, humility & a healthy dose of humor as well as one of the hardest working women in the business (even taking questions from Tyler Cook & Monte Cazazza in studio A). In this hour she shares tidbits from her illustrious past & dreams for the future: she is on the edge as she wants to be, but in her heart wants to INSPIRE! So Git Yer Medicine Woman Wheel ON! and NEVER SAY NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

25 June 2012

Listen in as Meri St. Mary talks with San Francisco’s own JOHNSILVERS, drummer, bike messenger & insightful human being, who has played with legendary SF bands The Dils, Chris Isaak, Chimneylions & his current project Streetlions. We cover a lot of territory in this hour chat with John from his joining the Dils in 1978 a band he loved to changing the names of his favorite love songs to Clint Eastwood & Bruce Lee (cuz, ya know, it wasn’t “punk” to do love songs) their “World Domination Tour” & how he thought Chip & Tony were the punk Everly Brothers. The Dils also impressed John Cale enough that he wanted to produce them after they played What Goes On, but again, that wasn’t to be. You can see/hear John Silvers in the punk documentary “Louder, Faster, Shorter” & he has many a humorous tale of behind the scenes live shows including doing benefits for Coal Miners & Laguna Honda Hospital. John is a funny, self deprecating & kind person who tells it like it is & was, we also touch on some dearly departed including Olga de Volga & John’s favorite punk drummer Tim Mooney. John Silvers is a survivor & a hell of a nice guy who loved the early diversity of punk & still lives it, (we all hate those hard core bullies!) Now git yer dub on, go see the Streetlions, oh & ride yer bike!!!

26 May 2012

Listen in as Meri St. Mary talks with WINSTONTONG a SF native actor/playwright, visual artist, puppeteer & singer/songwriter. He is best known for his vocal work in TUXEDOMOON, and for winning an Obie Award in puppetry for “Bound Feet” in 1978 (about a rather atrocious practice of male oppression towards women in a rather twisted idea of “beauty”). Winston joined Tuxedomoon in 1977 sporadically recording & performing with the group as well as recording solo material including the electro-pop dance album “Theoretically Chinese” in 1985. Currently Winston is on a “humble little quest” translating Baudelaire & recites two pieces during the show. We cover all sorts of subjects ranging from gods, goddesses, bullies, devils, murderers, vampires, politics, poetry & all manners of the “ Flowers of Evil.” Joining us in the conversation is Lx Rudis another SF native who is teaching analogue & regales us with stories from technology to his bohemian upbringing & more. Of note is the 2008 book “Music for Vagabonds: The Tuxedomoon Chronicles” by Isabelle Corbisier (self published) available on internet & best of all at the SF Main Library. Winston Tong’s song “In A Manner of Speaking” has been covered a staggering 13 times (including a heavy metal version). In 2005 Tong & Tuxedomoon played SF for the first time in two decades. Winston continues to create fascinating works to this day & is truly an elixir for other creative types. In a scary world where the force-fed dumbing down runs rampant I thank the stars for the brave & beautiful spirit that is Winston Tong & his willingness & need to keep pushing the proverbial buttons in a gorgeous poetic manner. If you loved him then, you’ll love him now: articulate, humble, thoughtful, political & poetically representing all the outsider artists of the world. Stay strong we will have out day (& our say)! Now, go out & find everything you can from the multifaceted & multi-talented Winston Tong!

30 April 2012

Listen in as Meri St. Mary talks with SF’s own ESMERELDA, an exquisite artist, musician, visionary woman who was (along with Tony Hotel) a founding member of the legendary femme punk duo NOHMERCY. In the space of an hour we hear of Esmerelda’s unique voyage from teenage runaway to finding her own tribe with the infamous Angels of Light. Simultaneously being addicted to glamour, anger & androgyny she found inspiration in the Butoh tradition & with Tony began their “No Boys On Guitar” minimalists punk band “On The Rag” in 1977 that was to become NOHMERCY. WIth scathing commentary, humor & relevance NOHMERCY played shows that delighted & demanded respect ending in 1980. Finally a full length recording of original material from 1979, recorded & mixed by the late SF genius Tommy Tadlock is available on Superior Viaduct Records w/cover design by uber talented Patrick Roques. NOHMERCY just played a record release party in SF after 33 years & it was FIERCE! Now more than ever you need to hear what ESMERELDA is saying touching on subjects as diverse as the end of the world to the scary trend of pharmaceutical company’s drugging our children to the art & discipline of the Butoh tradition, getting & staying clean & sober, being a visionary & individual as well as her successful solo career & what she listens to now. Humble & intelligent her story will captivate you, now, go get the new NOHMERCY CD/LP & make some art!